“Lennox, I mean it.”
“You’ll be okay tonight though?”
I can feel Ben’s eyes on me and I know if I don’t want William here, he’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve spent my life being trained for these situations.”
“He’s a decent man. Just enjoy it.”
There’s no point in explaining it to him. Every word I say, every nod I give, William will analyse because that’s what we do. Lennox does the same, but it’s that encapsulated in his life, he no longer notices it.
“What are you doing tonight?” I’ve heard only briefly from Elise. She’s working as a buyer for a clothing company and she’s just been offered promotion. Not that she needs the income but she likes the status. She hasn’t mentioned Lennox in a couple of weeks, other than to dig for gossip.
“Taking Fiona for a meal.”
I roll my eyes at Ben because I know he can hear what Lennox is saying. “Who’s Fiona?”
“Guy Dowie’s daughter. She was the year below you at school.”
“The oil heiress?”
“That’s the one.”
I smother a groan before it escapes. Fiona is everything my brother needs to avoid. She’s beautiful and rich and she knows how to behave, but he’ll die of boredom if he pursues anything with her and that would be trouble for everyone. My brother likes women. Plural. Just not enough to settle down with one.
“Lennox, please don’t go there. She’ll be giving secret statements to the press.” And he didn’t need that. His one major flaw.
“It’s just dinner. I’m not taking her home. Or anywhere else. Mum’s asked me to go out with her a couple of times. Not sure why.” He’s starting to sound bored. “Look, just be as friendly as you can with William. I’m not asking you to marry the man or anything.”
“I’ll let you know how it goes.”
We say our goodbyes and hang up. Ben is still there, watching.
“There’s media outside.” His voice is low, quiet, as if we’ll be heard, as if the hacks are standing outside the room.
I understand what he means. Someone has tipped them off that William Goldsmith is visiting. Someone has an agenda and that someone could well be Lennox.
“They’re the human equivalent of maggots.” My opinion isn’t high. “Let’s hope the Prime Minister isn’t keen on sharing his tales.”
Ben shakes his head. “I don’t trust anyone, Blair. But in this case, I think I’m justified. I’m going to stay in your room while he’s here.”
I nod. “Thank you.” A current connects and I feel a buzz.
I never got over Ben. He was the boy I always thought about when I was with the few other men. It was his hands I’d want on me, his lips breathing my name.
I don’t think he got over me either. Not if the way he’s looking at me is anything to go by.
* * *
William Goldsmith is on time, almost to the second. He’s escorted to the door by one of his team, probably security, and he’s let in by Franklyn who hasn’t buffed his shoes as much as normal, which tells me everything I need to know about Franklyn’s perspective on William.
“Evening.” He reaches to take my hand.
I offer it to him to shake, but instead he lifts it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to it and looking at me with an expression which suggests I should be bowled over by his smoothness.
When I was a child, I had an uncle who used to insist that I kissed him every time I saw him. Nothing inappropriate, but if I refused he’d act upset and hurt and I’d feel bad. I complained to my mother, but she’d argued back, saying we saw him infrequently and it was just the way he was. For the sake of causing an argument about how I was spoilt, I could accept his usually sloppy kiss on my cheek.
Since then, I’d hated being kissed when I didn’t want it and I hate the way William seems to think that I’ve been honoured.
